Top Wall Street analysts are bullish on these dividend stocks

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An Exxon Mobil state presumption successful Washington, D.C., connected Nov. 28, 2023.

Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images

With the Federal Reserve present connected a rate-cutting campaign, dividend stocks whitethorn soon get their infinitesimal successful the spotlight.

Investors looking for lucrative dividend-paying stocks tin way the recommendations of apical analysts, who see assorted aspects similar a company's fundamentals and consistency successful dividend payments earlier selecting a stock.

Here are three dividend-paying stocks, highlighted by Wall Street's apical pros on TipRanks, a level that ranks analysts based connected their past performance.

Exxon Mobil

This week's archetypal dividend prime is lipid and state elephantine Exxon Mobil (XOM). The institution precocious announced better-than-anticipated third-quarter results, driven by a coagulated emergence successful production. It is worthy noting that the institution achieved its highest liquids accumulation successful implicit 40 years with 3.2 cardinal barrels per day.

The dividend aristocrat returned $9.8 cardinal to shareholders successful the 3rd quarter. Moreover, the institution accrued its quarterly dividend by 4% to 99 cents per share. With this hike, Exxon has accrued its dividends for 42 consecutive years. XOM banal offers a guardant dividend output of 3.3%.

Following the Q3 print, Evercore expert Stephen Richardson reiterated a bargain standing connected Exxon banal with a terms people of $135. The expert noted that the company's strategy to put done the rhythm trough and boost spending connected large projects and acquisitions similar that of Pioneer Natural Resources boosted the prospects of its Upstream business.

"The payment of incremental investments and possibly much importantly the precocious grading of the plus basal has enactment XOM connected a antithetic competitory footing vs. the manufacture but besides vs. its ain humanities results," said Richardson.

The expert noted that the company's currency travel from operations, excluding moving superior changes, of $15.2 cardinal was level connected a quarter-over-quarter ground but exceeded his expectations by astir $1.1 billion. He besides highlighted that Exxon's nett indebtedness declined by $1.1 cardinal successful the quarter, reflecting $2.3 cardinal of nett moving superior inflow.

Richardson ranks No. 924 among much than 9,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings person been profitable 61% of the time, delivering an mean instrumentality of 9.6%. See Exxon Ownership Structure connected TipRanks.

Coterra Energy

We determination to different vigor player, Coterra Energy (CTRA). It is an exploration and accumulation institution with operations focused successful the Permian Basin, Marcellus Shale and Anadarko Basin. In the third quarter, shareholder returns represented 96% of the company's escaped currency travel (FCF) and included a quarterly basal dividend of 21 cents per stock and stock repurchases worthy $111 million. 

Coterra Energy aims to instrumentality 50% oregon greater of its yearly FCF to shareholders and precocious highlighted that it has returned 100% twelvemonth to date. CTRA banal offers a dividend output of 3%.

On Nov. 13, Coterra announced 2 abstracted definitive agreements to get definite assets of Franklin Mountain Energy and Avant Natural Resources and its affiliates for a full magnitude of $3.95 billion. The institution thinks that the acquisition of these 2 Permian Basin plus packages volition grow its halfway country successful New Mexico and boost its organizational strengths.

Reacting to the news, Mizuho expert Nitin Kumar reaffirmed a bargain standing connected the banal with a terms people of $37 and a "Top Pick" designation. He said that portion the assets being acquired are little charismatic than Coterra's existing Permian inventory connected the ground of axenic good productivity, their higher lipid premix and little good costs offset this shortcoming.

While Kumar thinks that these acquisitions are not transformative, helium remains bullish connected CTRA's semipermanent prospects and thinks that "as the lowest-cost shaper of gas, CTRA should beryllium capable to enactment above-peer currency procreation adjacent astatine little prices oregon wide differentials, which complement oil-driven FCF from the Permian."

Kumar ranks No. 187 among much than 9,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings person been profitable 64% of the time, delivering an mean instrumentality of 14.3%. See Coterra Energy Stock Charts connected TipRanks.

Walmart

Finally, let's look astatine Walmart (WMT). The big-box retailer delivered awesome third-quarter results and raised its full-year guidance, acknowledgment to the spot successful its e-commerce concern and betterment successful categories beyond groceries.

Earlier this year, Walmart raised its annual dividend per share by astir 9% to 83 cents per share, marking the 51st consecutive twelvemonth of dividend increases.

Following the results, Jefferies expert Corey Tarlowe accrued the terms people for WMT banal to $105 from $100 and reaffirmed a bargain rating. The expert noted that the company's same-store income continued to beryllium fueled by accrued transactions, higher portion volumes and favorable wide merchandise trends.

Tarlowe highlighted that betterment successful Walmart's margins helped present better-than-expected net successful the quarter. Specifically, WMT's Q3 gross borderline improved by astir 20 ground points owed to respective reasons similar accrued e-commerce profitability, inventory absorption and a favorable concern mix. Further, the operating borderline expanded by 10 ground points, acknowledgment to drivers similar accrued gross borderline and higher rank income.

The expert besides noted the betterment successful wide merchandise income successful Walmart U.S., supported by factors specified arsenic enhanced assortment and stock gains crossed each income cohorts. 

Overall, Tarlowe is bullish connected the banal and remains "incrementally encouraged by WMT's quality to connection customers improved value, witnesser robust growth, and summation stock ahead."

Tarlowe ranks No. 331 among much than 9,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings person been profitable 67% of the time, delivering an mean instrumentality of 17.6%. See Walmart Hedge Fund Activity connected TipRanks.

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